An authentic adventure: A look inside The Chosen’s final season filming in Utah County
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- Extras on The Chosen set are pictured Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Chosen Director Dallas Jenkins speaks on set Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Chosen Art Department Coordinator B.J. Forman speaks on set extras on The Chosen set Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Jerusalem Motion Picture Set as seen Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Jerusalem Motion Picture Set as seen Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Jerusalem Motion Picture Set as seen Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
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- The Chosen Director Dallas Jenkins speaks on set Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Goshen.
Creating a historical drama about the life of Jesus Christ is a quest for authenticity that took 5&2 Studios producers back to the Holy Land in search of filming locations for The Chosen.
While in Israel, they found plenty of churches and tourist locations — but struggled to find somewhere that looked ancient enough.
So, the creators narrowed in on a shooting location 7,000 miles away, located south of Utah Lake on a property surrounded by nothing but goats and cows: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Jerusalem Motion Picture Set in Goshen.
While much of the filming takes place in Texas, The Chosen team began filming portions of the show at the Utah site in Season 2 and has returned every season since. For 13 days this month, they are back one last time to shoot exterior shots of Jerusalem for the seventh and final season.
“I’ve never seen a set like this, where I really feel like this set is in many ways more authentic than even the experience when I go to Israel,” The Chosen Director and Creator Dallas Jenkins said. “That’s what has made this set really special and why we were so excited to film here, because there’s very clearly a ton of care and attention to detail that went into making this.”
The show’s screening has a ways to go, with Season 6 premiering on Nov. 15 on Prime Video, followed by a theatrical film depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in spring 2027. Season 7, focused on Christ’s resurrection and the days that follow, won’t premier until 2028.
However, the journey is nearing a close for the production team and actors currently filming the final season. The Daily Herald was invited to visit the set during shooting Tuesday afternoon.
An authentic experience
While the set itself has all the elements of a Hollywood production – a security gate, trailers for the actors and a large mess hall – the distinguishing feature is the authenticity of the time portrayed.
The moment one steps inside, one is surrounded by towering, ancient-looking walls and detailed decor from rugs to food and pottery. Tuesday’s filming involved scenes immediately following the resurrection, which meant it was just after Passover and extras were wearing their colorful holiday garb.
“It’s a different kind of look,” said Art Department Coordinator B.J. Forman. “Our extras in Texas, when we’re back in Capernaum, will have a very different look. Much more muted colors, much more earth tones.”
“Authenticity” is written on top of every whiteboard at every production meeting, Forman said, and everything the art team does is motivated by that word.
It can be a challenge, he said, because Jewish history is written — not painted — so recreating history requires going off ancient ruins and interpreting words.
When production designer James Cunningham is preparing a scene for a show, he does a deep history dive to find what a space should look like and then will describe it to a concept sketch artist. That sketch is turned into a 3D model, which becomes the drafting for the construction team, Forman said. Then the art team adds the color, props and texture.
“The process is pretty amazing,” Forman said. “What we can figure out through the history books, online and through the archaeology, we try to bring to the show as authentically as we can.”
The Goshen film site itself serves as a strong base that ties it all together.
Forman said “words can’t describe” how important it is for production. The 3-acre site’s infrastructure makes Jerusalem feel like a large ancient city, fitted with impressive columns and large courtyards.
The Chosen crew has also been permitted to make temporary modifications to the set, such as building a new gate into Jerusalem.
Forman said 5&2 Studios were the first guests the church allowed to use the grounds, and when site operators saw how they used the set during Season 2, they were “blown away.” The relationship between the church and The Chosen crew has remained steady since.
“They allow us to come in here and do our thing,” Forman said. “Every year they’ve sort of let a little bit of the reins go and let us just do what we want, because they know we’re taking really good care of the place.”
Being in Utah County
Hundreds of extras were on site for shooting Tuesday, many of whom are longtime fans of the show who created their own clothes based on the production team’s how-to book and traveled great distances to participate.
“This is the first thing I’ve done for me in a long time,” Vermont resident Mary Plumb said. “I’m so excited, I can’t stand still.”
Combine the extras, the actors and the production crew, and there are a staggering number of people involved in the shooting, and they’re all staying in Utah County. Plumb and her sister-in-law, Deb Lazarz, rented an Airbnb in Salem. Forman said the closest hotel is in Spanish Fork, and many stay even farther away.
“I have a 45-minute commute each way,” Forman said.
The crew has all been exposed to what the Utah Valley community has to offer. Some staff members remarked on the beauty of Bridal Veil Falls, which they stopped by before dinner one night earlier this week. Many are wowed by the mountains.
“It’s a really neat place. And this area of Utah is unbelievable. It’s just so beautiful with the mountains, and it’s like a 360-view of beauty,” Lazarz said.
Spending time here for each of the last six years, Jenkins said the community is one of the most warm and welcoming environments he’s been in. Every time he goes to a store or restaurant, someone stops him and thanks him for making the show.
“One of my favorite things about the show has been the relationship that I’ve been able to build with Utah and the people of Utah,” Jenkins said. “The set has been such a blessing to the show, but then the people, when I come to Utah, it feels like Chosen country.”
The state will forever be connected to a show that has become a worldwide phenomenon, generating more than 250 million viewers through five seasons.
As a drama, the show has taken some creative liberties while depicting Bible stories. Even then, authenticity remains key, as Jenkins said they take what is known from the Bible and create plausible scenarios meant to highlight the true meaning.
“We want to get it right. We want to make sure that we’re honoring God and the characters and the intentions of Jesus in the Gospels,” Jenkins said. “I feel like we’ve done that, and I feel like that’s why the show is working.”
